Excanged into BWV thru II

[Ahzroe]

Hello, long time reader, first time poster. Single dad, taking my DDs (age 5 and 8) for their initial voyage to Disney World this summer. I own a timeshare resort, Ft. Lauderdale Beach Resort, 1BD Unit, week 1. I have owned there for 10 years, never stayed, just exchanged. After reading this board, I knew DVC was the best place to take my girls this summer. For the past two months, nearly ever morning, 5:00 am EST, I logged into II checking for all Orlando properties from June thru August, 2006. This morning, a BWV studio for July 1 thru July 8 was available. I know it is going to be HOT and CROWDED; but, considering the limitations on when I could take them, it is the best option.

So from now until then, I will continue to read the great advice you all offer. I am searching for information on the activites for children at BWV, best ticket deals and so on. My first question to you is the Dining Plan. I have to call MS and pay a user fee prior to my arrival ($95ish I think). If the Dining Plan does become available to start booking in January 2006 for reservations from April 2006 and forward, will I be eligble?

Thanks in advance. Sorry to be so long winded, but I am very excited!!

 

[RobDoc]

Welcome to the DIS. There is a wealth of information available here. Feel free to ask any questions about the BWV or programs here on the Planning Board.

At this time there is little information available about the Dining Plan except that it will be available to DVC members after April 1, 2006. No word yet about any details or whether it will be available for II exchanges. You may be able to find some information from II directly about that - or call MS (the II contact) after January 1 to see what information they can share.

Enjoy!

 

[chris1gill]

I saw that studio come up yesterday morning!! I'm glad a DIS'er got it! I just snagged Hilton Head during our March Spring break myself (we're also DVC'ers)....

BW has a lot of activities for the kids, first of all it's got a wonderful pool, and the activity center really is the best on property... there are free video games, ping pong/table tennis & I forget what else... oh, free movies.... You are not far from Fantasia Mini-golf, I highly recommend you go!

I have no idea what DVC will do in regards to the dining plan for you, I doubt they know too much at this point... I think we will find out more after the first of the year....

Have a great trip!

 

[nezy]

Another fun BWV to do is rent the surrey bikes and ride all around over to Beach and Yacht Club.
Are you a Fla resident? I think Fla res. get great WDW discounts.
We are not Fla. residents . We buy the passes -like a 10 day, and add "never expire". We usually only go to the parks 2-3x in a visit, so we use our passes over a few years. Others get AP's . If you go to the section of the Disboards re: "Theme Parks" or "Discounts" I am sure you will find alot if info to help you.
You may want to book a Princess Breakfast or Lunch at Cinderella Castle or Breakfast -I think in Norway at EPCOT. Then you can walk right over to EPCOT for breakfast. There is so much to do, but go at your own pace. In the summer I would say do parks early or late in the day with alot of poll time in between. You may also want to visit other DVC properties like OKW or SSR. In the summer -the water parks are also a great place to be-Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. I would recommend Typhoon, as you have a 5yr. old.

Have fun.

 

[spiceycat]

for the best ticket prices - go sign up for www.mousesavers.com email.

 

[littlestar]

Congratulations on your trade in, especially during summer. That's great.

I'm pretty sure Magical Express will still be going on in the summer when you are going so you should be able to use Magical Express from the airport if you don't want to rent a car. That will help offset some of that $95 fee you have to pay when you trade in through Interval. You have to set it up before arrival at the Orlando International Airport, though (don't know if you are flying or driving).

Do a search on yahoo under Tagrel and you will find his website that has a great pool slideshow set to music of the Luna Park pool at BWV. Your girls would enjoy it.

Have a great time!

 

[slk537]

That is so great to hear! We also own II and have traded into OKW twice - a 2br the first time and a 1br last September. I've seen OKW and SSR and HHI available on II, but this is the first time I've hear of BWV - that is so fantastic!

Start planning your ADR's now and call at the 180 mark - regardless of dining plan. Have everything ready to go and then have a ball. But be careful...our first stay at OKW through an II trade led us to join DVC....

 

[Dean]

That is so great to hear! We also own II and have traded into OKW twice - a 2br the first time and a 1br last September. I've seen OKW and SSR and HHI available on II, but this is the first time I've hear of BWV - that is so fantastic!

Start planning your ADR's now and call at the 180 mark - regardless of dining plan. Have everything ready to go and then have a ball. But be careful...our first stay at OKW through an II trade led us to join DVC....

I've seen all resorts up to a 2 BR at one time or another. Actually the more difficult resorts are easier now after the change a couple of years ago to a set number of points per exchange than they were previously.

 

[LisaS]

I second spiceycat's suggestion that you sign up for the mousesavers.com monthly newsletter. There are often special ticket discounts from Orlando-area ticket brokers offered exclusively to the newsletter subscribers.

For our most recent trip to WDW, I bought my ticket through my DH's employer. They have a sponsorship relationship with Disney and are able to offer tickets to employees at prices that are sometimes better than the mousesaver's deals. I don't know how many companies have these kind of deals, but I mention it because in our case, my DH wasn't even aware of it. He just happened to learn about it from a co-worker when he mentioned our upcoming trip. So if you happen to work for a company that sponsors something at WDW, you should check with your personnel rep to see if you can purchase discounted tickets.

 

[nezy]

A few questions:
Where on II do they list the available resorts?

Do you need to have deposited a week for exchange in order to access this?

How far in advance would DVC "give" a week to II? For example, if i deposit a week w/ II that is good until Aug. of '07, and i wanted to see if a DVC resort was available in April of '07, would I have to wait to check that out 11 months prior ot April of '07? or 7 months ? or more or less? I am still not sure how the whole DVC-II exchange works from the II perspective trying to trade in to a DVC resort.

Dean are you out there?

 

[spiceycat]

http://www.intervalworld.com

you sign up here.

then you can look and see before you deposit your week.

after you are register - you click on exchange -

 

[nezy]

Thanks Spiceycat! I did that.

 

[Dean]

A few questions:
Where on II do they list the available resorts?

Do you need to have deposited a week for exchange in order to access this?

How far in advance would DVC "give" a week to II? For example, if i deposit a week w/ II that is good until Aug. of '07, and i wanted to see if a DVC resort was available in April of '07, would I have to wait to check that out 11 months prior ot April of '07? or 7 months ? or more or less? I am still not sure how the whole DVC-II exchange works from the II perspective trying to trade in to a DVC resort.

Dean are you out there?

For those that may not know, you have to be a member of II independently, through DVC will not give you access. DVC could not give up a week to II earlier than 10 months and 3 weeks. In my experience, many weeks show up about 9-10 months out and again about 45-90 days out. Jan, May, Sept, early Oct and early Dec are the most frequent times that I see online and SSR plus OKW are the most common. VB is common for certain times as well and HH for Dec to Mid March excluding Xmas. Most are studios and 1 BR but 2 BR are not that uncommon. DVC generally does not deposit premier time such as Xmas or easter at WDW. If you want a DVC resort, put in an ongoing search, that is your best bet by far. Exceptions are inside the 60 day window and if your trying to get a larger size than you give up.

 

[Ahzroe]

At this time there is little information available about the Dining Plan except that it will be available to DVC members after April 1, 2006. No word yet about any details or whether it will be available for II exchanges. You may be able to find some information from II directly about that - or call MS (the II contact) after January 1 to see what information they can share.

Enjoy!

Thanks Doc. Keeping my fingers crossed on the Dining Plan. Doing some research it looks like there are a lot of options on managing dining credits. We like to snack during the day and have one nice meal!

 

[Ahzroe]

I'm pretty sure Magical Express will still be going on in the summer when you are going so you should be able to use Magical Express from the airport if you don't want to rent a car.

Do a search on yahoo under Tagrel and you will find his website that has a great pool slideshow set to music of the Luna Park pool at BWV. Your girls would enjoy it.

Have a great time!

Thanks Littlestar! We will fly in and try the Magical Express. Tagrel did have some nice slideshows and daily blogs of his trips.

I am keeping the trip a secret from the girls until after the holidays. I don't want to spoil them (too bad!!).....

 

[Ahzroe]

for the best ticket prices - go sign up for mousesavers' email.

We are not Florida residents, so I signed up for the mousesavers. I am looking at 7 day hoppers, no expiration, with Magic Plus. With the girls being young, I want take things easy, not feeling pressured to go every day we are there. I need some relaxing time too!

 

[InstImpres]

We are not Florida residents, so I signed up for the mousesavers. I am looking at 7 day hoppers, no expiration, with Magic Plus. With the girls being young, I want take things easy, not feeling pressured to go every day we are there. I need some relaxing time too!

If you are doing a 7 day with no exp. and saving the days for the next trip, ge a 10 day pass, it is just literally a few dollars more

 

[Ahzroe]

If you are doing a 7 day with no exp. and saving the days for the next trip, ge a 10 day pass, it is just literally a few dollars more

Outstanding recommendation!

 

[Ahzroe]

I called Member Services today and added the Dining Plan option. All of my ADRs have been confirmed (CRT, Mama Melroses Fantasmic Diner, Ohana's, Corral Reef, LeCellier, and Teppanyaki). I purchased 10 day premium, no expiration tickets for me and my two girls. I also confirmed the use of the Magical Express, and requested a lower room, facing the pool at BWV. Now all I need is for July 1 to hurry up and get here!!

Thanks so much for helping me plan for my girls' first trip!!

 

[aterriq]

A few questions:
Where on II do they list the available resorts?

Do you need to have deposited a week for exchange in order to access this?

How far in advance would DVC "give" a week to II? For example, if i deposit a week w/ II that is good until Aug. of '07, and i wanted to see if a DVC resort was available in April of '07, would I have to wait to check that out 11 months prior ot April of '07? or 7 months ? or more or less? I am still not sure how the whole DVC-II exchange works from the II perspective trying to trade in to a DVC resort.

Dean are you out there?

We did the request first. You put in your request for a place. They put your week on hold. If they get what your looking for, then they deposit your week. This is what we used. We also had the opportunity to ask for a 3 week period in September since my kids go to year round school.